how does amazon do it?

I recently needed a new UPS, and liked the price/performance of the CyberPower OR2200LCDRM2U. I was just about to go ahead and order it from NewEgg (link), but happened to swing over to Amazon (link) first. NewEgg had the UPS listed for $399.99; at the time I ordered, Amazon was selling it for $356.19. So, Amazon was a bit over 40 bucks cheaper. Plus, I’m a Amazon Prime member, so two-day shipping on the UPS was free (NewEgg would charge $117.08 for that), or overnight for $3.99 extra (NewEgg would charge $123.53.) I elected to go with overnight shipping (needed it quick!), so my total cost was $360.18. The total cost for the same UPS with the same shipping option at NewEgg would have been $523.52. So I saved $163.34. That pays for 2 years of Prime. Nice!

The odd thing – I ordered it about a week ago; now the price is set to $425.86. Seems to seem to vary a bit there. ;) Even at that price, however, it’d still be a savings of nearly $100 if you need quick shipping.

Other things I’ve ordered from Amazon this year that I should have paid a pile of money for overnight shipping on, but paid $3.99 instead:

Krups KM7000 Grind-and-Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker

Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Antenna (The price on the antenna was about $50 less than retail too!)